A Butterfly That Brings Fear: Aether Contract

Aether

Aether hadn't meant to be kidnapped by Paimon. But here he was, somewhere in Liyue, hiding in a bush with the fairy girl, watching as pigeons picked at the burnt remains of an unknown creature's rotten flesh. He started to open his mouth, trying to get an explanation, but Paimon was quicker. She slapped a hand over his mouth, putting a finger to her lips in a symbol of silence.

The wind rustled through the bushes as they sat, hidden by fat forest green leaves which shone in the morning sun. It had been 3 days since he came back to Teyvat, since he started to travel with Kaeya. But suddenly, out of nowhere, a small fairy came to kidnap him. That was an hour ago, and the flying child still refused to explain what was going on. Aether was starting to get fed up.

"Okay, what's going on?!" He said at last, pushing her hand away from his mouth. She immediately threw her hands back over his mouth, a crazed look of fear and panic racing over her face. Aether's eyes flicked back to the path. The pigeons had flown in fear from the sound of a voice, but one remained. Its head turned toward the bushes they were in, its eyes seeming to glow for a moment, before fluttering off. It was eerie, horrifying somehow.

"Paimon... What was that?..." Aether said, turning towards the fairy, who had taken her hands off of his mouth. Instead her empty, terrified eyes were focused on where the pigeons had flown off, hands pressed to her mouth as if to keep her from screaming.

"Oh no... they found us... shit." Aether had never heard Paimon curse before. It was odd. So odd to the point that he was even more worried about what happened while he was gone. Before he could think again she grabbed his wrist, dragging him through the brush, flying faster then he had ever seen her.

"Ack! Ow!" He yelped as stray branches whacked his face and sides.